Posts by Josh Moody

Joshua 10-12, Psalm 76, Mark 2:1-12, 1 Corinthians 4 Psalm 76:   What is the least mentioned characteristic of God in the contemporary church? I suppose different answers could be given to that question, but to my mind the answer is given in this psalm: fear. We are quick to exult in God’s love (as we should), but…

Joshua 8-9, Psalm 75, Mark 1:35-45, 1 Corinthians 3 Psalm 75: Why give thanks to God? There are many answers to that question, not least because of his saving grace wrought at the cross. But here the psalm has a particular and perhaps slightly enigmatic reason in its focus: “for your name is near” (75:1). The reason why,…

Joshua 6-7, Psalm 74, Mark 1:21-34, 1 Corinthians 2 Psalm 74: Why do bad things happen to good people? Most of us have asked that question from time to time, and a species of that sort of question frames this psalm. “O God, why do you cast us off forever?” (74:1). The question of this psalm is not…

Joshua 3-5, Psalm 73, Mark 1:9-20, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Psalm 73: Have you ever felt as if the people who really have all the fun are those who are not following God? That is the feeling that this psalmist was wrestling with. He starts out by stating the pious truth that he knows he should believe: “Truly God…

Joshua 1-2, Psalm 72, Mark 1:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:1-17 Psalm 72: This is apparently a prayer “of David” (72:20) about his Solomon (“the royal son,” 72:1). There are three themes of this prayer: justice, blessing, and kingdom expansion globally. The first central theme of this prayer is “justice”: “Give the king your justice, O God” (72:1) “May he judge your people with righteousness, and…

Deuteronomy 33-34, Psalm 71, Matthew 28:11-20, Romans 16   Psalm 71: When you are attacked as a young man or woman, you have certain advantages. To begin with, you are strong. You fear less the actual physical attack, or the hidden insinuated physical attack, that lies behind the words of slander or accusation. Plus, as a young person you…

Deuteronomy 32, Psalm 70, Matthew 28:1-10, Romans 15:14-33  Psalm 70: Jesus teaches us that we should always pray and not give up. And it is the experience of many a godly man and woman that prayer is to be persevered in, not merely played with. And yet, it is also a worthy desire to ask God to answer…

Deuteronomy 29-31, Psalm 69:19-36, Matthew 27:57-66, Romans 15:1-13 Psalm 69:19-36: This second section of the psalm continues its focus upon “salvation” (see verses 29 and 35). It begins with a mournful plea to God: “You know my reproach.” Take comfort if you are in difficulties that God knows. Your pain is not hidden from him; your sorrows are not…